What's in the Pipeline 3: the Search for Speck

[Crackerb0x]

Did anyone else notice that the new Night Gyr B doesn't make any sense at all? You can't just drill holes in the shoulder pads and call them missile launches... There's no build up in structure at all to account for the actual launcher mechanism. It looks terrible.

This came up during the sculpt process. About 3 or 4 holes in each launcher are inoperable, but we decided to retain the silhouette of the model and attribite the descrepincy to traditional BT engineering principles which are founded on C'thulian physics in favor of the rule of cool. There is buildup, but its not what you might have deemed appropriate.

I grew to love my little monster of a missile boat that I sculpted, but i also understand if he's not beloved by all. Especially when the Nova Cat B exists to overshadow him.

[Luciora]

I kitbashed mine with Lupus launchers in the arms and the generic missile plates overlayed on the torsos. 

We now have an official one in metal that I'm still collecting.  Not everyone can kitbash, so it's a good thing to have.

[God and Davion]

This came up during the sculpt process. About 3 or 4 holes in each launcher are inoperable, but we decided to retain the silhouette of the model and attribite the descrepincy to traditional BT engineering principles which are founded on C'thulian physics in favor of the rule of cool. There is buildup, but its not what you might have deemed appropriate.

I grew to love my little monster of a missile boat that I sculpted, but i also understand if he's not beloved by all. Especially when the Nova Cat B exists to overshadow him.

It is a great sculpt. Well done!

[jimdigris]

If I had to explain it, the actuators and myomers are housed almost completely in the upper arm with only attachment hardware, power cables and an ammo feed passing into the torso shoulderpads.

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

Hey, a thought I had while assembling the new releases for this month.

As the newer sculpts are tending to have stances that are wider than the old stuff and also have bigger feet, would it be possible to get the new flat-topped hex bases sold in blister packs of four instead of just individually?  A lot of my newer minis just don't fit on the old hex bases with the lip around the edge unless I flip them upside down, so I need to buy the flat tops in bulk.

[worktroll]

To use up what you have, fill with basing material - clay, gap-filler, etc - and scrape level. The plastic hexes I get from RPE have the lip, so whenever I have the same need that's what I do. Then glue the feet to the basing when dry.

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

Oh, I don't have a problem using my current hex bases, I just thought that given that modern models no longer fit easily on them it would be nice if IWM started selling hex bases that do fit them in blister packs.

[worktroll]

No worries! Maybe IWM has shares in modelling clay production ;)

[jimdigris]

Any word on when the Ion Sparrow will be released?

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

The Mad Cat A/D, Iron Cheetah, and Vulture C minis that are set to release this quarter are the only upcoming minis we've had confirmed releases for currently.

[Alex Keller]

Any word on when the Ion Sparrow will be released?

Oh man, this design came out over 4 years ago with the release of ilClan Rec. Guide Vol. 11.  It could easily be another few years before we see a metal sculpt.   

[worktroll]

I don't envy IWM - they need to balance 'bread and butter' designs that sell well, supporting the new plastic mini line (which often bleeds into the first category), and the 'special interests' of enthusiastic fans. The fact they've supported BattleTech at all for the past 25 years since the fall of FASA comes from their hearts, not their heads, so I try to cut them a little slack :)

[Alex Keller]

 IWM has been amazing, no doubt.  There was a time not so long ago when it felt like IWM was keeping Battletech going by producing dozens of new miniatures every year and we'd only be getting just one or two sourcebook releases. 

[Dragon41673]

The fact they've supported BattleTech at all for the past 25 years since the fall of FASA comes from their hearts, not their heads, so I try to cut them a little slack :)

Well said & I fully agree

[Highlighter]

Oh man, this design came out over 4 years ago with the release of ilClan Rec. Guide Vol. 11.  It could easily be another few years before we see a metal sculpt.

There is no way Rec Guide 11 was four years ago.  No way!  Please no. :(

[Blkbr2020]

Is that the new upcomming IWM Iron Cheetah that just popped up on Camo Specs? Or are they using a pre-production sculpt for a new plastic mini?

Either way it looks slick.

[Death_from_above]

Is that the new upcomming IWM Iron Cheetah that just popped up on Camo Specs? Or are they using a pre-production sculpt for a new plastic mini?

Either way it looks slick.

It's a prototype for the upcoming IWM pewter mini (source : CamoSpecs' Savage Coyote's Instagram).

EDIT : whoops, didn't realise that Crackerb0x also painted one.. could be a prototype as well I guess.

[Dragon41673]

Is that the new upcomming IWM Iron Cheetah that just popped up on Camo Specs? Or are they using a pre-production sculpt for a new plastic mini?

Either way it looks slick.

Last I heard, there was going to be the Prime in regular distribution which Savage Coyote painted up, and if I recall there will be 2 variants, which i cannot remember which ones they will be, or if they are still scheduled for release. Either way...here's the one from Savage Coyote which was the prototype for production so the actual mini should be VERY close to this if not exact just like the one Cracker posted

[bobthecoward]

Last I heard, there was going to be the Prime in regular distribution which Savage Coyote painted up, and if I recall there will be 2 variants, which i cannot remember which ones they will be, or if they are still scheduled for release. Either way...here's the one from Savage Coyote which was the prototype for production so the actual mini should be VERY close to this if not exact just like the one Cracker posted

Really awesome, but as I was scrolling by I thought it was just a dire wolf at first. Explaining this to my wife I feel like I would be discussing mega-tor vs mega-ti.

[Crackerb0x]

It's a prototype for the upcoming IWM pewter mini (source : CamoSpecs' Savage Coyote's Instagram).

EDIT : whoops, didn't realise that Crackerb0x also painted one.. could be a prototype as well I guess.

Hehehe, those prototypes come from me, so yes, it's one of those. IWM doesn't give us any prerelease stuff to paint.

As for any other conjecture, I'm excited to see the reaction from you all for things when they are actually announced.

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

I really want to know which variants of the Iron Cheetah are being worked on.

[Prometheum5]

I really want to know which variants of the Iron Cheetah are being worked on.

I could have sworn Speck mentioned the variants but I couldn't find the post. Gotta do the B for the classic Cheetah experience.

[Kerfuffin(925)]

We have two variants as well....

when someone said they are gonna buy so many iron cheetahs

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

I'm rather hoping that one configuration will be the L just because we don't see many omnis getting Dark Age/IlClan era configurations.